Victim Location 45690
Total money lost $4,000
Type of a scam Government Grant
My husband and I are disabled and in abject poverty. About a month ago, I got an IM through my Facebook from a friend who said she got a grant. There was a number to text. So I texted.I received a text that said I was approved for a grant. There was a list of amounts. I chose $30,000 and I paid $500. Then the text was that the IRS had the money, and they needed $2300 to pay the taxes. So I paid $1150, then 2 or 3 days later I paid the difference because the IRS would not release the funds. Then there was an $850 fee because they held the money for so long.Then the money was supposed to arrive in 5 hours. Then the texter said there was another fee demanded by law, $430.00, which I overdrew my checking account to pay that because he promised the money would be there in 5 hours. Then I got a text which said Congratulations I was approved for $70,000 and I just need to pay another $1600 for the taxes, guaranteed I will get the money this time within 5 hours. I only get $1061.50 a month, so it took awhile to get the money for the fees. I’ve paid them $4000 through Walmart to Walmart and Western Union from Krogers in Waverly, which he had me cancel. The Kroger clerk advised me of scams, and this could be a scam. I told her it was ok, I knew this person, because that is what the texter told me to say. I borrowed money from my mom. I spent my disability check. The Walmart clerk in Waverly would not let me use the Western Union, so I drove to the Walmart in Chillicothe. The clerk at Walmart warned me not to wire the money. Every time a clerk warned me. I told them all it would be all right. The texter said the money would be Fed Exed to me within 5 hours. I wired money to Linda Naomi Hide Sharp in AZ. He continues to text me. I told him to stop harassing me. When we thought we were getting this money, my husband went to LoanMax and got a car title loan for $1800, which is $624.00 a month for 12 months. He thought it was a 90 day note. We cannot pay back this money. When I try to call the texter, the phone answers that I don’t have the correct code. My "friend" is constantly texting me, like, don’t worry, follow through adn "I just don’t want you to have to worry about debt". When they pose as my friend, they respond, "sure" a lot. We are going to the shelter tomorrow. I never thought about calling my friend. I only contacted them because of her.